The difference, by ear
Animals as Leaders appear on both lists. Djent is a rhythmic idea; this is a whole compositional approach that frequently uses it.
Djent is part sung, part screamed where instrumental prog metal is mostly instrumental, at much the same pace, around 90 to 180 bpm. To hear the difference, play Liquid Tension Experiment next to Meshuggah. Both grew out of progressive metal, instrumental prog metal first and djent twelve years after.
In figures
Instrumental prog metal
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Progressive metal › Instrumental prog metal
In short
No vocals: the melody is carried by guitar or keyboard, and the structure can be as complex as it likes.
How it sounds
- The melody is carried by guitar or keyboards, with no vocals.
- Long technical structures with many sectional changes.
- Clean production with every instrument separately audible.
Key acts
- Liquid Tension Experiment
- Animals as Leaders
- Scale the Summit
Start here
The pickAnimals as Leaders - the debut. Tosin Abasi plays eight strings as if it were normal.
Full page →Djent
Where it sits
Heavy metal › Progressive metal › Djent
In short
The name imitates the sound: seven- or eight-string guitars, heavily compressed palm mutes and polyrhythms. Meshuggah built the vocabulary; a generation of forum users named it.
How it sounds
- Seven- or eight-string guitars, tuned very low, with heavily compressed palm mutes.
- Polyrhythm: the riff repeats on a cycle that does not line up with the drum meter.
- Precise digital production with a deliberately sterile tone and no reverb.
Key acts
- Meshuggah
- Periphery
- Animals as Leaders
- TesseracT
Start here
The pickMeshuggah - Nothing. Count the bars if you can.
Full page →